The Pleasure Sources Assessment (PSA): A new measure that predicts self-rated health and subjective well-being in a general Australian sample

Pleasure is a central aspect of positive life experiences and underpins a core focus of positive psychology. However, the positive psychological canon only rarely refers to pleasure, focusing on positive affect or emotions. We make a case for considering pleasure as its own important psychological construct. We introduce a new instrument, the Pleasure Sources Assessment (PSA). This 31-item scale measures the range and extent to which people consider a range of experiences pleasurable. A single item evaluating the degree to which participants felt their life to be pleasurable (Overall Pleasure) was also administered. To examine the properties of these measures, data were collected from 2,713 adults (67% female, 57% aged 25–54) who participated in the [name of study omitted for anonymous review], an anonymous online survey. We identified four factors in the PSA: Relational engagement, Aesthetic engagement, Passive pursuits , and Gregarious engagement . Total and variety scores on the PSA significantly predicted subjective well-being and physical and mental health. We report Australians’ top-rated sources of pleasure and differences by gender and discuss the implications of this work and directions for future research. A direct focus on pleasure is essential for advancing the pursuit of optimal functioning.